3RZ Runners Only

[TheDurk]

Dear 3RZ bruthren:

Can you help me find the Toyota part numbers for the two breather / ventilation hoses that go into the valve cover? The rear one hits the PCV and the front hits the metal tube. I ordered 12261-75080 and 12262-75050 and they were not the right shape and length. My truck is a 99 non-CA emissions, pic of the actual engine bay, hoses of interest have red arrows:

According to toyodiy.com 12261-75080 is for 06/99 and on, which is MY2000. For MY 99, you want 12261-75030.12262-75050 should be correct, however. Are you SURE you are non-CA? Cali's were sold all over the country in 1999, and you would not be the first to make that mistake....if so, you want 12262-75130.

 

[IJM_3RZ_4x4]

New 3rz to the forum

Haven't met the new member post min yet but I wanted to be a part of this thread as soon as possible.
I bought my 1999 3rz 4x4 5 speed completely stock from the original owner in 2012 with 283K miles. It was well taken care of and the price was unbeatable.
Fast forward 5 years, I've added:
3 inch Bilstein/Eibach lift
265/75/16 Duratracs, 16x8 ion alloys
Cabela's Trail Gear Roof Basket
Flowmaster Super HP 2 muffler
LCE street header
K&N intake
Two sets of Hella 500s and one set of Hella 700s
CBI ditch light brackets
Insain Fab antenna mount
Cobra CB
Full interior LED bulbs
Pioneer head unit/kicker front and rear speakers

I'm currently at 335,000 miles and I've started to drastically lose compression
Cylinder #1 = 90psi
Cylinder #2 = 140psi
Cylinder #3 = 50psi
Cylinder #4 = 140psi

My valve rings are worn and I think it's time for a new engine. I found some imported Japan takeouts for a good deal, but I'm still have questions before going for it.
I have the two coil ignition set up on my current engine. If I purchased a used engine with the individual coil packs, could I just swap over my current set up?
Also, will I need to find an engine out of a 4x4 5speed manual? Or will any engine work?
I'd like to not have to mess with the wiring harness if possible.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Kanoe]

Welcome IJM_3RZ_4x4

Nice 4runner and impressive mileage!

It sounds like you know what you are doing with maintenance and such. Have you checked and adjusted your valve clearances? How much have you had to adjust them in all those miles?

Sorry, I'm no help at answering your questions.

 

[jtnumberthree]

Nice truck indeed! I parted ways with my '87 Hilux @ 338,000 miles. Sold my 1996 3RZ Runner last year with 269,000. I ran it with Alumaseal for 50,000 miles with a small headgasket leak into cyl. 3. Sold it with full disclosure of all issues(headgasket, clutch, rear brakes, etc.)

Bought this one from the original owner for $2400 @ 236,000 miles last month with new tires, battery, windshield, and tuneup. I installed a Denso Radiator and just changed the oil and ATF. This is my daily commuter/kid hauler:

 

[IJM_3RZ_4x4]

Welcome IJM_3RZ_4x4

Nice 4runner and impressive mileage!

It sounds like you know what you are doing with maintenance and such. Have you checked and adjusted your valve clearances? How much have you had to adjust them in all those miles?

Sorry, I'm no help at answering your questions.

Thank you! I bought it for $2000 with 283k on it.
I actually have never adjusted the valves since I've owned it. It really didn't
seem as though it needed it until recently when I was too late. I believe the
valve rings are too far gone to save the engine. I'm assuming to find lots of
metal flakes next time I change my oil.

 

[Kryptoroxx]

Haven't met the new member post min yet but I wanted to be a part of this thread as soon as possible.
I bought my 1999 3rz 4x4 5 speed completely stock from the original owner in 2012 with 283K miles. It was well taken care of and the price was unbeatable.
Fast forward 5 years, I've added:
3 inch Bilstein/Eibach lift
265/75/16 Duratracs, 16x8 ion alloys
Cabela's Trail Gear Roof Basket
Flowmaster Super HP 2 muffler
LCE street header
K&N intake
Two sets of Hella 500s and one set of Hella 700s
CBI ditch light brackets
Insain Fab antenna mount
Cobra CB
Full interior LED bulbs
Pioneer head unit/kicker front and rear speakers

I'm currently at 335,000 miles and I've started to drastically lose compression
Cylinder #1 = 90psi
Cylinder #2 = 140psi
Cylinder #3 = 50psi
Cylinder #4 = 140psi

My valve rings are worn and I think it's time for a new engine. I found some imported Japan takeouts for a good deal, but I'm still have questions before going for it.
I have the two coil ignition set up on my current engine. If I purchased a used engine with the individual coil packs, could I just swap over my current set up?
Also, will I need to find an engine out of a 4x4 5speed manual? Or will any engine work?
I'd like to not have to mess with the wiring harness if possible.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Nice truck man!!

Just read about your valves. Ouch....I'm sorry. Lc does cylinder heads as well. You could do a rebuild and upgrade the head to toss a few more mice in the cage. Probably more expensive than a used engine but I would feel better about it than a mystery engine too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[IJM_3RZ_4x4]

Nice truck man!!

Just read about your valves. Ouch....I'm sorry. Lc does cylinder heads as well. You could do a rebuild and upgrade the head to toss a few more mice in the cage. Probably more expensive than a used engine but I would feel better about it than a mystery engine too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

Thank you! Yeah I've looked at new heads and a rebuild kit but a low mileage takeout
is much more in my price range. I'm currently a senior in college so money is
tight right now.

 

[Kryptoroxx]

Thank you! Yeah I've looked at new heads and a rebuild kit but a low mileage takeout
is much more in my price range. I'm currently a senior in college so money is
tight right now.

I feel you. I have 3 semesters left in my econ major.....

Can't wait to have a shop again. I have boxes of parts I wanted to get to but ran out of time before I left california.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[IJM_3RZ_4x4]

I feel you. I have 3 semesters left in my econ major.....

Can't wait to have a shop again. I have boxes of parts I wanted to get to but ran out of time before I left california.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

I graduate December of 2017 so not long for me. I lucked out though. I'm and agricultural science major with a business administration minor.
I got a job working at a research farm my school owns. I work out of a huge shop with more tools than I could ever need.
I spend a lot of unpaid weekends at work working on my runner.

 

[Kryptoroxx]

I graduate December of 2017 so not long for me. I lucked out though. I'm and agricultural science major with a business administration minor.
I got a job working at a research farm my school owns. I work out of a huge shop with more tools than I could ever need.
I spend a lot of unpaid weekends at work working on my runner.

And where is this?? Lol

All my stuff is jammed in a shed.....

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[s2murse]

Hey Guys! New 3rd gen owner here! 1997 3rz 4x4 5speed. Main usage is for mild offroad trails and street. It's stock right now, just on bilsteins 4600s. Any recommendations on a 2-3" lift kit and tire setup? I know there are several. Not planning to regear on anything at the moment so I'm still deciding which tire size to use with a 2-3" lift. Thanks!

 

[Kryptoroxx]

Hey Guys! New 3rd gen owner here! 1997 3rz 4x4 5speed. Main usage is for mild offroad trails and street. It's stock right now, just on bilsteins 4600s. Any recommendations on a 2-3" lift kit and tire setup? I know there are several. Not planning to regear on anything at the moment so I'm still deciding which tire size to use with a 2-3" lift. Thanks!

I have been very happy with 2" of lift using 99 springs in the front and ome 906 springs in the rear. For shocks I have the tundra 5100adj and in the rear the 4runner 5100adj. Works great for dd style driving with a good capability offroad.

As far as tires go I run 235/85 on the 4.3 gear ratio. Since we have a 4.1 stock the 4.3 more than makes up for the change and allows you to go find the elocker axle.

Main thing is though go find out what she will do stock. Modify for what you can't do but want to do.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[rkntoy]

Hey Guys! New 3rd gen owner here! 1997 3rz 4x4 5speed. Main usage is for mild offroad trails and street. It's stock right now, just on bilsteins 4600s. Any recommendations on a 2-3" lift kit and tire setup? I know there are several. Not planning to regear on anything at the moment so I'm still deciding which tire size to use with a 2-3" lift. Thanks!

I went with the Tundra TRD/Tundra Adj Bilsteins in front and OME 890 in the back. Wheelers Offroad talked me in to the 890 springs from the 906 as I planned to load it up with bumpers and stuff.

I first went with 265 75 16 tires and for a mild offroad/street vehicle I would stop there. Gained me more clearance, looked better, swapped in an e-locker and matching front with 4.30 gears and the highway gearing was not that different from the tiny 235 whatever 15 tires that came with it. Every other week I would drive it a 10 hour round trip.

 

[cantaloop]

So im a fellow 3rz owner and mine has been running very rich for a while now. You can smell it while driving around town with the windows down, it's definitely gas. Thought it was my exhaust leak at first so i replaced my manifold with a header. Stopped the leak but still ran rich. So i replaced my upstream o2 sensor, cause i had a P0136 show up. Still didnt fix anything. Rear o2 was replaced when i got the truck so no issues there. What else could be causing it to run so rich?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kanoe]

Tacoma offroad / OME2906 and Bilstein 4600

I think this is of more interest to the 3rz group than the V6 guys. This is the biggest post I have ever made, hope it is of use to someone. Thought I would share the results of my suspension experimentation.

I have a 96 3rz base model. 5spd, no A/C, no cruise, no power locks or windows on 15 inch steelies with load range c tires. Likely the lightest 3rd gen available.

1- 3 years ago I went with used 99 Tall fronts, used 99 Tall rears with cone bumpstops and new Bilstien 4600s all around. This resulted in a woefully saggy rear end. Ugly. The 99 Tall fronts gave me fully 2.5" of lift from old original. Too much IMHO.

2- So the used 99 Talls in the rear were swapped for a new set of OME2906s (and cone bumpstops). This resulted in a level 4runner when empty but still a little rear sag when loaded for camping, say an inch lower in the rear. After about 50,000 km it was sitting at 35.5 inches on all corners, or 22.5" hub center to fender when empty. I was OK with the look but the front end ride was horrible. Far too stiff, very jarring in the front. Dash shakingly painful. It got better with time but only slightly.

3- At [MENTION=85046]nissanh[/MENTION]'s suggestion I found a set of used Tacoma Progressive Offroad package fronts out of a 2004 Tacoma with the extended cab. Free height of these are about 1/4 inch shorter than the 99 Talls (all springs junkyard used). Once installed and a couple hundred KMs on them the results are spectacular. They ride much better.

Now my 4runner unloaded sits at 34.5" in the front and 35.5" in the rear. The improvement in the front is very noticeable and I don't mind a bit of rake. Today for an experiment, I loaded the 4runner with 250 to 275 pounds of weight in the rear to simulate a very full load of traveling gear. I ran a few miles on some rough roads then set up for measurements. Happy surprise! Dead level at 34.5" on all corners, or about 21.5" hub centers to fender. I'm very happy with these results.

In summary, I feel the 99 Tall fronts might be a little too stiff for someone not planning to add weight to their 3rz. The Tacoma Offroads are better suited for my use.

The pics below are loaded with 250+ pounds right over the rear axle. I know the tires are small but I love the fuel economy.

 

[socalkid]

posted up in the New Members area but given we have a dedicated 3RZ thread gotta add to it too!

got my new to me 98' Base 2wd stick a few weeks back and loving it! a little background, my first 3 cars were all Toyota pickups/Tacoma's, the last of which was a 98' 4cyl 5spd 4x4 SR5 (first new car), white with blue/gray interior that i sold in 08' and have been regretting it ever since. fast forward to a few weeks ago and low and behold, my new to me Runner is white with moon mist, 3RZ stick! the Runner is too much fun to drive, every time i get in it i get taken back 20 years.

anyway, enough about me, more about the Runner. bought from 2nd owner (family friend of the original owner) who had it for a year before me and the whole time it sat, i think they put maybe 200 miles on it. 78k original miles, besides some usual wear and tear its it great shape. immediately did all fluids the weekend i brought it home. already had recent tires/brakes/plugs & wires, plus the area around the head is clean so looks like maybe a new gasket at some point.

i have a buddy who owns a shop specializing in Honda's, but had him take a look anyway plus he referred me to a Toyota guy who gave me a look over as well... both commented the truck is in great shape and doesn't look to need anything major, though i do have a couple small things to monitor:

- a little sweat coming from the 3rd member, oil pan, and passenger rear shock, but i hesitate to even call it sweat. no drips at home, and i've been monitoring since i bought at no problems
- also have a bearing whine in the tranny somewhere (spit some metal when the fluid was changed) that goes away when the clutch is disengaged, but shifts great and smooth so not too worried, especially considering i just changed the fluid

no plans to mod really given that its 2wd, did find an OEM rack on eBay that i'll put on in the next few weeks and sometime in the next 6-12 months i'll replace the LBJs as a preventative measure, also shocks and springs along with any other suspension parts that may need it, and when the tires go probably put on some 31x10.5s just to fill it out.

anyway, here's a pic of my new love (don't tell the wife), looking forward to many many happy years ahead and getting back up to speed on my Runner, after all been 10 years since my last 3RZ!

 

[Scramble]

I think this is of more interest to the 3rz group than the V6 guys. This is the biggest post I have ever made, hope it is of use to someone. Thought I would share the results of my suspension experimentation.

I have a 96 3rz base model. 5spd, no A/C, no cruise, no power locks or windows on 15 inch steelies with load range c tires. Likely the lightest 3rd gen available.

1- 3 years ago I went with used 99 Tall fronts, used 99 Tall rears with cone bumpstops and new Bilstien 4600s all around. This resulted in a woefully saggy rear end. Ugly. The 99 Tall fronts gave me fully 2.5" of lift from old original. Too much IMHO.

2- So the used 99 Talls in the rear were swapped for a new set of OME2906s (and cone bumpstops). This resulted in a level 4runner when empty but still a little rear sag when loaded for camping, say an inch lower in the rear. After about 50,000 km it was sitting at 35.5 inches on all corners, or 22.5" hub center to fender when empty. I was OK with the look but the front end ride was horrible. Far too stiff, very jarring in the front. Dash shakingly painful. It got better with time but only slightly.

3- At [MENTION=85046]nissanh[/MENTION]'s suggestion I found a set of used Tacoma Progressive Offroad package fronts out of a 2004 Tacoma with the extended cab. Free height of these are about 1/4 inch shorter than the 99 Talls (all springs junkyard used). Once installed and a couple hundred KMs on them the results are spectacular. They ride much better.

Now my 4runner unloaded sits at 34.5" in the front and 35.5" in the rear. The improvement in the front is very noticeable and I don't mind a bit of rake. Today for an experiment, I loaded the 4runner with 250 to 275 pounds of weight in the rear to simulate a very full load of traveling gear. I ran a few miles on some rough roads then set up for measurements. Happy surprise! Dead level at 34.5" on all corners, or about 21.5" hub centers to fender. I'm very happy with these results.

In summary, I feel the 99 Tall fronts might be a little too stiff for someone not planning to add weight to their 3rz. The Tacoma Offroads are better suited for my use.

The pics below are loaded with 250+ pounds right over the rear axle. I know the tires are small but I love the fuel economy.

That's interesting, my 99 3rz came with talls from the factory & never felt stiff. My only complaint was that the rear sagged when loaded with camping gear in the back even when new.

 

[Kanoe]

That's interesting, my 99 3rz came with talls from the factory & never felt stiff. My only complaint was that the rear sagged when loaded with camping gear in the back even when new.

There is always the possibility that the combination of the 99 talls and the 4600s are to blame. The 4600s and the Tacoma springs is a combination I like more. I will keep the 99 talls for future use when and if the bilstiens get replaced.

Do you recall what your front measurements were when stock? Like I mentioned I was at 22.5" hub center to fender.

 

[Scramble]

There is always the possibility that the combination of the 99 talls and the 4600s are to blame. The 4600s and the Tacoma springs is a combination I like more. I will keep the 99 talls for future use when and if the bilstiens get replaced.

Do you recall what your front measurements were when stock? Like I mentioned I was at 22.5" hub center to fender.

I don't remember, I wrote down my pre-lift dims but lost the paper before I could add them to this site.

 

[bwarren]

Question for you 3rz guys.

I have a base 1996 auto with 210K miles. Every now and then it stalls in stop and go traffic. it happens maybe once every few months, usually after a quick stop in traffic. It always starts right up afterwards. Other than that it seems to run great. I recently replaced the TPS sensor and thought that replaced the problem but no dice.